Western Winter 2014 Issue 01

NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT IN THE WEST

The Bird that Brought the West Together

Cattle as Engineers

The Ecology of Fear

A publication of the Ruckelshaus Institute, a division of the University of Wyoming’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources NEW PERSPECTIVES Cattle as ecosystem New management enhances biodiversity

By Justin D. Derner, David J. Augustine and Emily production,1, 2, as they optimize both weight MANAGING FOR DIVERSITY J. Kachergis gain per animal and per acre. Producers have an What is vegetation heterogeneity? economic incentive to efectively use available limate, , topography, grazing, and can engineer to produce diferences forage and convert it to pounds of weight gain fre have shaped the composition and in vegetation structure and composition. For as the well-established market-driven system structure of vegetation on rangelands example, intensive grazing in one area may result emphasizes price per pound. However, the Cin the American West. Collectively, the many in higher amounts of bare ground, which benefts resulting “sameness” of vegetation composition possible combinations of these diferent factors species such as the mountain plover. Resting a and structure, due to the application of similar should lead to diverse plant communities and nearby area will allow the forage to grow taller, management across large land areas, has associated diverse species. Diferences providing nesting habitat for grassland species triggered the demise of many grassland birds as in vegetation structure (i.e., how tall above the such as the pintail, or in sagebrush, the sage well as reduced biodiversity. As a result, many surface the plants are) and composition grouse. Tis alternative approach to management of the “species of concern” on rangelands of the (kind and amounts of diferent plants) are both increases percentages of the landscape with American West live on landscapes that have important for biodiversity. short and tall vegetation structure. Possible litle variation of vegetation composition and Yet, many rangelands across the American tradeofs with livestock production merit structure. For example, the mountain plover, West have been managed through similar grazing additional investigation to provide economic adapted for breeding on bare ground, and the management practices so that extensive areas of valuations for the “costs” of providing vegetation lark bunting and western meadowlark, adapted vegetation have comparable kinds and amounts heterogeneity.3 for high cover areas, have been declining on of plant species (e.g., same grasses, forbs and Livestock can engineer diferences in semiarid rangelands. shrubs; vegetation composition). As a result, the vegetation structure and composition within Incentivizing ranchers to increase lack of many diferent plant communities can the framework of most current management diferences in vegetation composition and result in few diferences in height of vegetation practices. For example, ranchers can alter timing structure on rangelands of the American West (or vegetation structure), which are ofen needed and intensity of grazing, length of rest periods, and will require 1) understanding how livestock can by grassland birds. Tis lack of vegetation type of livestock to create diferent levels in height be used as tools to engineer rangelands for both diversity can translate to a lack of habitat of vegetation and kind and amount of plants. provision of ecosystem goods (e.g., livestock diversity and biological diversity on these lands. Ranchers can control when livestock graze certain production) and services (e.g., wildlife habitat, Rangeland plant communities ofen areas, for how long, and how much vegetation is water quality and quantity, soil health, carbon appear uniform or unvaried due to the fact that lef ungrazed (to a certain height or residue level) sequestration and storage), 2) determining ranchers have an economic incentive to graze following a grazing period. Trough management ecosystem services’ economic values, and 3) their livestock using management practices that decisions, ranchers vary the length of rest periods creating proper economic incentives that will emphasize “management to the middle” and from relatively short (weeks-months) to long (one foster vegetation&and greater biological& “avoidance of the extremes.” Tese management year or greater). Longer rest periods stockpile diversity. practices are sustainable for livestock forage resulting in greater vegetation heights.

10 10 Western Western Confluence Confluence Cattle as ecosystem engineers

Western CConfluenceonfluence 11 Varying the time of grazing across years or stocking rates can shif vegetation composition. Combining diferent types of livestock, such as cow-calf pairs, yearlings, sheep, goats, or combinations of these, can strategically engineer the vegetation on rangelands due to diferent diet selections. Combining grazing with prescribed fre in the Great Plains portion of the American West modifes the amount of bare soil, forage quality and quantity, vegetation structure and, in some cases, reduces unwanted species, such as prickly pear cactus or broom snakeweed (dry areas) or smooth brome (tallgrass prairie).4, 5 Burning patches within pastures encourages livestock to graze recently burned areas where forage quality is higher. In addition, less grazing activity will occur in the non-burned parts of the pastures, which results in more vegetation structure. Tis creates a greater range of vegetation structure in pastures with patch burns, compared to those pastures managed similarly but without prescribed fre. Combining fre and grazing in the Great Plains, does not, however, consistently create vegetation heterogeneity.6 Sites where the combination works efectively are those where fre is the primary driver of livestock grazing behavior, such as the tallgrass prairie. In addition, some invasive plant species, such as Photos representing vegetation heterogeneity created by engineering rangelands using livestock through diferences in season and intensity of grazing in shortgrass steppe. Areas with high bare ground and limited plant cover were created by very heavy grazing cheatgrass in the Great Basin and in early spring (upper lef), heavy grazing in summer created areas of very short structure (lower lef), light grazing in the winter Lehmann lovegrass in the Southwest resulted in saltbush-dominated vegetation with more diverse vegetation structure (upper right), and diverse forb and grass species deserts, thrive following burns, so are enhanced with light grazing during the summer (lower right).16, 17, 18, 19, 20 inclusion of fre as a management tool without consideration of the inherent result in taller vegetation structure due of grazing, as well as dung and urine risks associated with increasing ECOSYSTEM SERVICES to an absence of grazing. However, deposition within a pasture, but vegetation heterogeneity in these AND LIVESTOCK this requires some fexibility in the with an overall objective of creating is not recommended.7 PRODUCTION livestock enterprise to accommodate diferences among pastures and For these rangeland ecosystems of this strategy. Livestock and vegetation across years. Grazing animals for a Achieving both provision of the intermountain west and desert management require fexibility to shorter time period, in diferent times ecosystem services and maximal southwest, fre can result in 1) large- incorporate prior use paterns, and of the year and sequences across livestock production at the same scale conversions of native plant current and near-future grazing plans, years will increase diferences in time on is difcult. On communities to invasive plants, and into the overall management plan. vegetation composition and structure. one hand, there is high demand to 2) altered fre regimes with fres Tis fexibility can involve using Temporary electric fencing can increase production of livestock becoming more frequent. livestock as ecosystem engineers by subdivide existing pastures to provide to feed an ever-expanding world Taller vegetation can be atained 8 puting more animals on a unit of more control of livestock grazing for population. On the other hand, by grazing an area and then not land area, but for a shorter time. Tis these shorter time periods of grazing there is growing societal desire for coming back to graze again for an will decrease the selectivity of grazing and longer periods of no grazing. rangelands to provide a suite of extended period. For example, rest 9 animals but increase the uniformity ecosystem services. Fundamental to periods greater than one year generally these challenges is the stark reality

12 Western Confluence NEW PERSPECTIVES that a developed economic market of vegetation heterogeneity. Rather, management practices and associated these commodities for the rancher, as system drives livestock production judicious approaches that take decision-making processes are driven well as for the general public, should whereas markets have yet to emerge advantage of pre-existing templates of to maximize livestock production.15 provide the foundation on which to for ecosystem services. Te benefts heterogeneity of soils or topography Tis has led to increasing the foster more engineering of rangeland of providing these services have yet to can start the process. Changes in “sameness” of vegetation composition vegetation by livestock. be monetized. Moreover, ranchers fear grazing management should take and structure on landscapes through economic costs if they use livestock into account: 1) potential of diferent “management to the middle,” rather Dr. Justin D. Derner is a Rangeland as ecosystem engineers such as lower ecological sites to produce diferences than management which embraces a Scientist for the USDA-Agricultural livestock weight gains. For example, in vegetation, 2) determination that much larger range in both vegetation Research Service Rangeland Resources patch burning in pastures can provide vegetation/habitat diversity is a desired composition and structure. Research Unit in Cheyenne, Wyoming. greater heterogeneity of vegetation outcome for management, 3) fexibility “Engineering” for greater He currently serves as co-Lead Scientist structure with no efects on livestock in the enterprise to accommodate vegetation heterogeneity will occur for the project entitled “Improved weight gains compared to pastures modifcations in grazing management, when markets for ecosystem services Management to Balance Production not burned,10 but there are costs and and 4) realization that there may provide economic justifcation for and Conservation in Great Plains risks to ranchers to incorporate these be some tradeofs associated with ranchers to change management. Rangelands.” prescribed burns. Without incentives livestock production for certain aspects Providing economic markets for these that compensate for this lost income, of this approach. ecosystem services, and associated Dr. Emily J. Kachergis is a Landscape or developed markets for ecosystem economic values for these services, Ecologist and AIM-Monitoring services on which decisions could ECONOMIC INCENTIVES are the nexus for facilitating more Implementation Lead with the National be made to modify management to Ranchers can use livestock to widespread engineering by livestock Operations Center of the Bureau of Land emphasize additional outcomes that engineer landscapes for provision of rangeland ecosystems in the Management in Lakewood, Colorado. have economic rewards, this issue of both ecosystem goods and American West. Ranchers, land will remain problematic for ranchers. services,13, 14 and this approach can managers, policy makers, economists, Dr. David J. Augustine is a Research Preliminary eforts are unfolding in be implemented on many rangelands, and others need to come together in Ecologist for the USDA-Agricultural the western U.S. that may serve as a provided there are developed confuence to create proper economic Research Service Rangeland Resources template for additional development markets that value ecosystem services incentives that will foster changes in Research Unit in Fort Collins, Colorado. of markets.11, 12 to determine economic returns management practices to increase David is also a co-Lead Scientist for the We are not suggesting that all associated with their decision-making. vegetation heterogeneity and produce project entitled “Improved Management current grazing management switch Given the current reality in which marketable commodities from these to Balance Production and Conservation from a livestock production-centric formal markets exist only for livestock rangelands. Ten, development of in Great Plains Rangelands.” basis to one that emphasizes provision weight gains, it is not surprising that markets to place economic value on

ENDNOTES 1 Bement, R.E. 1969. A stocking rate guide for beef production on blue-grama range. Journal of 12 Goldstein, J.H., C.K. Presnall, L. Lopez-Hofman, G.P. Nabhan, R.L. Knight, G.B. Ruyle, and Range Management 22:83-86. T.P. Toombs 2011. Beef and beyond: Paying for ecosystem services on Western US rangelands. Rangelands 33(5):4-12. 2 Hart, R.H., and M.M. Ashby. 1998. Grazing intensities, vegetation, and heifer gains: 55 years on shortgrass. Journal of Range Management 51:392-398. 13 Derner, J.D., W.K. Lauenroth, P. Stapp, and D.J. Augustine. 2009. Livestock as ecosystem engineers for grassland bird habitat in the western Great Plains of North America. Rangeland 3 Derner, J.D, J.K. Detling, and M.A. Antolin. 2006. Are livestock weight gains afected by black- Ecology and Management 62:111-118. tailed prairie dogs? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 4:459-464. 14 Toombs, T.P., J.D. Derner, D.J. Augustine, B. Krueger, and S. Gallaher. 2010. Managing for 4 Augustine, D.J., and D.G. Milchunas. 2009. Vegetation responses to prescribed burning of grazed biodiversity and livestock. Rangelands 32(3):10-15. shortgrass steppe. Rangeland Ecology and Management 62:89-97. 15 Dunn, B.H., A.J. Smart, R.N. Gates, P.S. Johnson, M.K. Beutler, M.A. Diersen, and L.L. Janssen. 5 McGranahan, D.A., D.M. Engle, S.D. Fuhlendorf, S.J. Winter, J.R. Miller, and D.M. Debinski. 2010. Long-term production and proftability from grazing catle in the Northern Mixed Grass 2012. Spatial heterogeneity across fve rangelands managed with pyric-herbivory. Journal of Prairie. Rangeland Ecology and Management 63:233-242. Applied Ecology 49:903-910. 16 Knopf, F. 1996. Prairie legacies - birds. Pages 135-148 in F. Samson and F. L. Knopf, editors. 6 McGranahan, D.A., D.M. Engle, S.D. Fuhlendorf, S.J. Winter, J.R. Miller, and D.M. Debinski. Prairie conservation: Preserving North America’s most endangered ecosystem. Island Press, 2012. Spatial heterogeneity across fve rangelands managed with pyric-herbivory. Journal of Washington, DC. Applied Ecology 49:903-910. 17 Derner, J.D., W.K. Lauenroth, P. Stapp, and D.J. Augustine. 2009. Livestock as ecosystem 7 Brooks, M.L., and J.C. Chambers. 2012. Resistance to invasion and resilience to fre in desert engineers for grassland bird habitat in the western Great Plains of North America. Rangeland shrublands of North America. Rangeland Ecology and Management 64:431-438. Ecology and Management 62:111-118. 8 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2011. Te state of the worlds’ 18 Augustine, D.J., D.T. Booth, S.E. Cox, and J.D. Derner. 2012. Grazing intensity and spatial land and water resources for food and agriculture. Rome, Italy. 47 p. heterogeneity in bare soil in a grazing-resistant grassland. Rangeland Ecology and Management 9 Havstad, K.M., D.P.C. Peters, R. Skaggs, J. Brown, B. Bestelmeyer, E. Frederickson, J. Herrick, 65:39-46. and J. Wright. 2007. Ecological services to and from rangelands of the United States. Ecological 19 Augustine, D.J. 2011. Habitat selection by mountain plovers in shortgrass steppe. Journal of Economics 64:261-268. 75(2):297-304. 10 Limb, R., S. Fuhlendorf, D. Engle, J. Weir, R. Elmore, and T. Bidwell. 2011. Pyric-Herbivory and 20 Augustine, D.J., and J.D. Derner. 2012. Disturbance regimes and mountain plover habitat in Catle Performance in Grassland Ecosystems. Rangeland Ecology and Management 64:659-663. shortgrass steppe: large herbivore grazing does not substitute for prairie dog grazing or fre. Te 11 Cheatum, M., F. Casey, P. Alvarez, and B. Parhurst. 2011. Payments for Ecosystem Services: A Journal of Wildlife Management 76(4):721-728. California Rancher Perspective. Conservation Economics White Paper. Conservation Economics and Finance Program. Washington, DC: Defenders of Wildlife. 65pp.

Western Confluence 13 : RANCHERS LEAD THE WAY

By Emilene Ostlind for extended periods throughout the conservation grazing didn’t happen all n the Howell and adjacent year. Tey tended to concentrate along at once, but was gradually implemented Oproperties in western Colorado, streams, munching fresh sprouts of season-by-season and year-by-year. catle are used to create prime elk plants trying to recover from recent “Te most important step is to hunting opportunities. Managers grazing. Meanwhile, they never get the mental shif to observer of carefully consider elk movements when reached the bunch grasses high on the ecology and animal behavior,” said they design the annual grazing plan for steep, forested slopes. Howell. “You have to have managers the ranch. In May and June they keep Under new practices implemented on the ground with a research bent. catle away from elk calving grounds. by Howell, ranch managers fence cross Tey think in the abstract. Tey are Ten the ranch hands concentrate sections of the canyons about 600-800 not just strict cowboys.” catle in favorite hunting spots in the yards wide with portable electric fences Tat intellectual shif was the frst half of the growing season, and running from ridgeline to ridgeline. hard part, according to Howell. Te move them to other areas later in the Tis creates a level of stock density that infrastructure costs amounted only to summer, leting forage recover. When motivates the catle to climb the slopes grazing planning charts and a few reels fall rolls around, those elk hunt areas in a way they never did under low of portable electric fence. Patience, are thick with new grass full of protein density, continuous grazing. As Howell trial and error, and gentle treatment and energy. describes it, on the frst day the catle helped the cows break old habits and “Te elk appreciate that and graze along the creek botom. Ten learn new grazing paterns. have learned that. During the fall, in they start climbing the slopes. Tey Howell’s work in western terms of grazing paterns, they tend to readily move up into the forest and by Colorado is just one example of concentrate on areas grazed early,” said day two of a grazing period many catle an outft adopting altered grazing Jim Howell, CEO of Grasslands LLC, have reached the ridgelines. Afer three management and seeing benefts and heir of the Howell Ranch. “Te to fve days, the managers move the in grass production and habitat. numbers are higher than ten years ago catle to the next fenced pasture. Rotational grazing, as it is sometimes before we implemented it. Tere are Catle also replace fre as a called, has been applied in the United almost too many elk.” management technique on the Howell States for about 45 years, and has Te increased elk numbers are Ranch. Whereas some managers use become more sophisticated and just one example of wildlife benefting fre to clear out decaying vegetation and widespread as decades pass. from new and improved management trigger a fush of recovery, the Howell Te November 1969 issue of at the Howell Ranch. In an uncommon Ranch achieves that with catle. Fire the American Society of Range example of wide-scale ecosystem is too dangerous in western Colorado, Management’s journal introduced engineering, Howell and his team have and takes a lot of work to carefully the concept of intensive, short- made gradual, large-scale changes to burn even a small area. Instead, focused duration grazing to North America. how they move catle through this and intensive grazing creates localized Range managers in Zimbabwe (then other ranches, and by their count they patches of regrowth atractive to Rhodesia) were exploring the method. have successfully improved forage, wildlife and develops a mosaic of Te idea was to concentrate livestock biodiversity, and notably, livestock vegetation ages across the ranch. into small pastures and move them productivity. Scientists, however, who Howell has ranched, consulted, frequently. Te paper’s author, Sid have studied “rotational grazing”&one and traveled in Argentina, Australia, Goodloe, wrote, “I saw ranches (in term for the kind of practice Howell Zimbabwe, South Africa, and New Africa) where existing fences had been has implemented&have been unable Zealand. In the mid 90s he and his wife, stripped of one or two wires and those to measure the benefts ranchers like Daniela, managed the 34,000-acre High wires strung from tree to tree to divide Howell claim. Lonesome Ranch near Lordsburg, New pastures until the increased carrying Te Howell Ranch on Colorado’s Mexico, where they deepened their capacity brought in enough money to arid western slope spans deep, management experience. When Howell build permanent fences.” rocky canyons. When the ranch was and his wife moved back to their family Short-duration grazing, Goodloe managed using traditional grazing ranch, they started to adjust grazing wrote, “breaks the parasite cycle, puts practices, cows roamed large pastures paterns. Te switch from traditional to the standing dry grass (top hamper)

Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, 14 Western Confluence Bugwood.org NEW PERSPECTIVES Tim McCabe, NRCS USDA

down to liter, eliminates trails to and visible and that they couldn’t wait for absent for decades. And ranchers “We have some massive from water and chips the soil surface years of research,” Goodloe wrote. also claim they are able to increase spreadsheets,” Fahsholz said. “Every two for beter seed germination.” Most Afer publication of this paper, stocking rates with rotational grazing weeks our cowboys turn in an inventory importantly, ranchers applying the U.S. ranchers began to apply the because the animals have beter of cows, the amount of supplement practice claimed they were able to practice with equal enthusiasm access to more nutritional forage. the cows used, what pastures they have reverse rangeland degradation even and results. It has gone by diferent When Wayne Fahsholz started used, and how many cows were in that as they increased livestock numbers. names&short-duration grazing, running the nearly-475,000-acre pasture.” Tat information is entered Livestock would make beter use holistic rangeland management, Padlock Ranch in the early 2000s into a database and used to ensure that of the available forage, according to rotational grazing, conservation he implemented what he calls a the same pastures don’t get grazed too proponents, and rangelands had time grazing. Many ranchers who have controlled grazing system. Electric ofen, too long, or at the same time of to grow back afer each period of adopted rotational grazing, like fences keep catle bunched in smaller year for consecutive years. In the winter intense grazing. Ranchers could then Howell, swear by it. Tey say it has pastures, and the animals are moved the managers look at pasture conditions raise more livestock on the same piece improved grass production and habitat frequently&every few days to every and correlate that to how many catle of land. Ranchers in Zimbabwe were diversity, repaired damaged streams, few weeks. Fahsholz picked up these were in each pasture at a given time enthusiastic that these new methods and reversed rangeland degradation. practices from working on other of year, and for how long. Tey set might help reverse deterioration of Many can share anecdotes of ranches and from atending the up guidelines for the coming grazing rangelands caused by long-duration wildlife&from sage grouse to elk Ranching for Proft School, a program season, but rely, too, on cowboys or continuous livestock grazing. “Te and from beavers to songbirds& that teaches ecology alongside fnance looking at pasture condition and ranchers argued that results were plainly returning to areas where they’d been and grazing management. deciding when the catle need to move

Western Confluence 15 on. “It’s not an exact science,” Fahsholz • Hoof action from having a large southeast Wyoming. Te researchers grazing is robust, but also narrowly said. number of animals on a small area created a matrix of study plots and, for focused, because it derives from But while ranchers extol the for short time periods reduced the 12 years of the study, assigned each experiments that intentionally benefts of the practice, scientifc rather than increased infltration plot a grazing strategy (continuous, excluded these human variables. studies have measured none of the • Short-duration grazing increased seasonally deferred, or short-duration (Emphasis original.) proclaimed improvements to rangelands erosion compared to continuous rotational grazing) and a stocking rate Te authors argue that a rif and livestock productivity. Despite or season-long grazing (from light at 0.16 steers per hectare, to exists between the piercing scrutiny of claims of improved rangelands from • Tere is litle diference in forage heavy, 0.56 steers per hectare). highly controlled scientifc study and ranchers, scientists who began to study production between short-duration Te researchers found that under the broader reality of natural resource rotational soon afer Goodloe’s paper and continuous grazing systems if heavier stocking rates&that is, with managers continually adjusting their was published have arrived at startling stocking rates are the same more livestock per acre&native prescriptions. Te authors call for results. Controlled studies of rotational • Short-duration grazing [was] grasses decreased and forbs increased recognition of the limits of scientifc grazing have been unable to detect the similar to continuous grazing in over the years of the study, regardless knowledge as applied to management benefts ranchers describe. Numerous efects on plant succession and of grazing strategy. Tey also found of such complex natural resource studies over the decades measured range condition if stocking rates that steers gained less weight per subjects as rangeland ecosystems, and reduced infltration of precipitation into were the same hectare of land when they were heavily propose developing a new model by soils, no change in forage production, Several studies showed that stocked compared to plots with fewer which research of such ecosystems can declined ecological condition of ranges, livestock didn’t gain weight as fast steers per hectare. account for human dimensions when and lower livestock productivity. under short-duration rotational Rather than informing measuring management practices. Tese studies have teased apart grazing as compared to continuous management practices, such fndings In another paper (“Livestock as the separate infuences of grazing grazing, while other studies showed have ignited controversy between Ecosystem Engineers for Grassland duration and stocking rates. One no diference and one study showed advocates of rotational grazing (and Bird Habitat in the Western Great review, published in 2000 and livestock gained extra weight with the ranchers who believe it works) and Plains of North America,” Rangeland authored by Jerry Holcheck and rotational grazing ecologists who argue that increasing Ecology and Management, 2009), four others, scrutinized eforts A major study by W.A. Manley and stocking rates come with no ecological Derner and three diferent co-authors by researchers at 13 locations in fve coauthors, cited in the above review, beneft. Holcheck, author of the above describe, much as in the accompanying North America to validate short- analyzed both grazing duration and review, wrote in his conclusions, feature article, methods for managing term rotational grazing efects on stocking rates, and measured the efect “History shows that it’s human nature grazing to promote diverse rangeland plant succession, mineral cycling, of each on surface and underground to believe a good story rather than vegetation. Moving beyond electric water fltration into soil, and other biomass, plant species composition, pursue the truth,” adding his claim fences to control livestock movement, purported benefts. Te review stated: and groundcover from 1982 to 1994 in that only reducing stocking rates could the authors recommend placing help rangelands recover from decades supplemental feed and water and of abuse. He even atributed fnancial herding as methods to get catle to losses experienced by ranchers in the graze some areas more heavily than 90s and growing confict between others, thus creating a mosaic of ranchers and environmentalists to vegetation of diferent ages and heights. high-risk management strategies Such approaches, they say, can help involving high stocking rates. rangeland managers achieve both Justin Derner and his colleagues conservation and production and ofer are among the ecologists starting an alternative to ending public lands to tease apart these discrepancies grazing for conservation purposes. and understand from a scientifc Meanwhile, no one is measuring perspective how grazing can be used “biodiversity” on rangelands to test as a tool to improve the ecological whether new practices are reversing health of rangelands. In a 2011 loss of species. Ranchers and the BLM paper in Rangeland Ecology and measure grass production, usually by Management titled “Origin, Persistence, measuring grass heights and other and Resolution of the Rotational metrics. Wildlife agencies and some Grazing Debate: Integrating Human conservationists monitor rangelands Dimensions Into Rangeland Research,” for target species (such as sage grouse) Derner and fve co-authors listed or count plant species and abundance. variables rangeland scientists may not On the Howell Ranch regular be accustomed to accounting for in monitoring transects prove that plant their experiments: ranch managers’ diversity and ground cover have goal seting, experience, and decision improved with the new practices. Active making. Tey wrote monitoring of wildlife biodiversity isn’t Te scientifc evidence refuting happening, but Howell said, “Whenever the ecological benefts of rotational you are enhancing plant diversity, that 16 Western Confluence NEW PERSPECTIVES opens niches for all kinds of wildlife from insects to birds to mammals.” Anecdotally, such as with the elk hunting successes and sage grouse monitoring projects on other Grasslands LLC ranches in Montana, biodiversity has increased with conservation grazing. Species once rare or absent are returning. “In any given year, we leave up to half of the ranch ungrazed, and these pastures are mixed throughout the ranch, so we have a mosaic of ungrazed and grazed patches,” Howell said. “And, all of the grazed patches are in diferent stages of recovery, with diferent vegetation structures. We efectively create a diverse landscape spread throughout the ranch, conducive to atract a diversity of wildlife.” Since he came to the Padlock, Wayne Fahsholz has been able to increase stocking rates, give less supplemental feed, and work with a smaller crew of cowboys. In addition, he said, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tells him the ranch has created some ideal sage grouse habitat. “Te overall range is beter,” Fahsholz said, Economics of Engineering with Livestock: “but you really see it in the riparian areas. Tey aren’t all tromped out like they were.” And the Padlock Ranch has Incentives for Establishing Biological Diversity been sweeping up conservation awards. Te ranch won the 2013 Leopold ecognizing the importance of agricultural lands “In Wyoming, the only species we are writing Conservation Award and the 2012-13 for wildlife, a number of programs in the western grazing systems for and paying enhancements for would Montana Environmental Stewardship R United States encourage ranchers to manage rangelands be sage grouse,” said Rick Peterson, state rangeland Award and was nominated for the in ways that beneft both landowners and wildlife. management specialist for the NRCS in Wyoming. Te National Catlemen’s Beef Association’s Financial incentive for improving biodiversity per se is new west-wide Sage Grouse Initiative pays ranchers Environmental Stewardship Award. yet to come. for practices that enhance sage grouse habitat on their Chris Pague, a senior lands. In two years, the Sage Grouse Initiative has conservation ecologist for Te Nature FEDERAL PROGRAMS worked with more than 700 ranches, put new grazing Conservancy based in Colorado, sees Te Environmental Quality Incentives systems into practice on more than 2 million acres of a trend to more and more ranchers Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, sage grouse habitat, marked 500 miles of fence, secured applying new science to improve administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 240,000 acres of conservation easements, and invested rangeland management in ways that Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), over $200 million. Another NRCS program, Working both boost vegetation productivity funds and provides technical support for voluntary Lands for Wildlife, established about one year ago, and beneft many wildlife species. Te rangeland enhancements on private lands. An interested is funded to the tune of $33 million. Two of the seven next step is to jump from measuring landowner can work with NRCS staf to purchase species it targets&the lesser prairie chicken and the not just rangeland quality &that is and install water tanks or fences, for example, to greater sage grouse&live on western rangelands. how nutritious and productive is the control livestock movements. Te NRCS requires that vegetation&but to measuring the individuals who participate in their programs follow STATE PROGRAMS value of those rangelands for wildlife conservation guidelines, including livestock stocking While they typically have fewer dollars to leverage and biodiversity. rates that are meant to leave enough forage and habitat than the federal programs, state wildlife agencies work Achieving such measurements afer livestock graze for wildlife. with both public and private landowners to improve will require a new kind of thinking and Tese programs target rangeland productivity rather habitat on rangelands. Te Wyoming Game and Fish widespread coordination that hasn’t than biodiversity as an outcome. Metrics of success Department Habitat Program helps coordinate happened to date for biodiversity on include how many inches high vegetation is afer grazing. conservation easements of high value to wildlife. In private and public rangelands in the West.

Western Confluence 17 addition, Game and Fish provides technical assistance to rangeland managers. In 2012, the agency developed nine grazing management plans to boost wildlife habitat on 68,525 acres in Wyoming. One innovative system for protecting wildlife habitat on private lands is Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Ranching for Wildlife program. On properties of 12,000 or more contiguous acres, ranchers implement wildlife habitat improvements, including grazing management to promote big game habitat and conservation plans for threatened and endangered species. Tey are also required to provide free access and information to public hunters (Colorado residents only) who apply to draw for coveted Ranching For Wildlife licenses. In exchange, ranches receive vouchers for a predetermined number of private hunting licenses, which can be distributed to any hunter. To date, over 1.2 million acres on 29 ranches are enrolled, with improved livestock grazing systems on more than 80% of those lands. Te Nature Conservancy has national award comes with public MARKET-BASED NONPROFIT developed landscape habitat models to recognition celebrating the CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS identify private lands with the highest management practices of the ranch. FINANCE Land trusts can also incentivize wildlife value in need of conservation. Te Leopold Conservation Te organization creates conservation Award, distributed by the Sand While many of the above ranchers by purchasing the programs ensure productivity of development rights for lands rich in easements with stipulations for County Foundation and partnering habitat management that can include organizations in eight diferent states, rangelands and keep them from wildlife habitat value. Te rancher being developed, they do not receives a payment equivalent to grazing programs, essentially paying recognizes land owners who achieve ranchers to engineer rangelands for conservation measures on their lands. measure biodiversity in itself. One the diference in market value of the upcoming idea to advance biodiversity land with and without the easement, biodiversity. Te Padlock Ranch on the Wyoming/ Montana border was recognized conservation is tools that give as well as a tax deduction for the AWARDS AND biodiversity economic value in the changed value of the property. Some in 2013 for innovative grazing RECOGNITIONS management that fosters wildlife marketplace. A few forward-thinking conservation easement agreements organizations are working toward that Land stewardship awards reward habitat, among other practices. specify grazing management activities end, and marketplaces have developed ranchers for grazing their livestock Te award comes with publicity, to protect or enhance wildlife habitat. for individual species such as the in ways to help wildlife. Te Bureau recognition from the Governor, and a Te Partnership of Rangeland dunes sagebrush lizard in Texas. of Land Management gives out a prize of $10,000. Trusts, an association of seven Te Environmental Defense Rangeland Stewardship Award Te Wyoming Game and statewide agricultural land trusts in Fund develops habitat exchanges to one ranch in the nation each Fish Department also celebrates the west, has placed nearly 2 million and other programs to put a monetary year. In 2012, the award went to the landowners who steward wildlife acres into conservation easements. value on habitat and species and enable Kirby Creek Coordinated Resource on their properties. One 2012 While many of these easements those who beneft from protection of Management Group in Wyoming’s Landowner of the Year, the JY have no specifc requirements for ecosystem services to give fnancial Bighorn Basin in recognition of their Ranch near Laramie, worked with habitat protection or enhancements, support to those who protect them. A extensive eforts to restore a degraded Wyoming Game and Fish to develop keeping open ranch lands from being habitat exchange pays landowners for watershed through fencing, invasive a grazing plan that protects streamside subdivided and developed has value for conservation activities that improve species control, water developments, vegetation and produces abundant wildlife. wildlife habitat. Developers purchase and other eforts shared by several rangeland forage for wildlife. credits created by the landowners to ranches and agencies. Tis prestigious ofset their impacts to the land.

18 Western Confluence